Enemies Must Pick It Up
"Despicable, shameless, utterly shameless, sycophantic..."
As Russell read, he looked at Gandalf. Saruman's summary was very insightful and hit the nail on the head.
Of course, Gandalf was full of wicked thoughts, and Saruman was no better. When Saruman cursed Gandalf, he spoke even louder, loud enough to be heard throughout Middle-earth.
Gandalf remained unperturbed by Saruman's insults. Everyone in Middle-earth knew Gandalf's character; no one would believe a wicked Wizard who had colluded with the Lord Sauron. Therefore, the more fiercely Saruman hurled insults, the more virtuous and noble Gandalf appeared.
"Saruman, you've gone mad! Come down and surrender, at least you'll retain your last shred of dignity!" Gandalf roared, his staff radiating a powerful light that made him appear majestic and inviolable.
Saruman's eyes stung, and tears streamed down his face. Enraged, he roared in a low voice, "Damn Grey Robe, you have no right to judge me!"
"Saruman, you and I both know what my advancement to the White Robe signifies..."
"It means nothing!"
Saruman interrupted sharply, his white staff striking the ground, unleashing a visible surge of Magic Power that flowed into the Orthanc beneath his feet. In an instant, the magical runes on the Orthanc's surface shone brightly, and a chilling aura permeated Isengard. Amplified by the Orthanc, Saruman's spells doubled in both range and power.
Click! Click-clack—
The cold air spread from the Orthanc, and the bone-chilling low temperature caused the flood to freeze instantly, and even the water vapor in the air turned into ice crystals and fell down.
Thick frost covered everything, and in the blink of an eye, the swamp turned into an ice field, every place exuding a chilling aura that people would avoid at all costs.
The Ents, led by Treebeard, were frozen by the cold air, and their teeth chattered, trembling and unable to speak.
Gandalf raised his staff, and his omnipotent Illumination Spell protected the group from the cold. He leaped down from the Treebeard and said, "You lot, retreat to a safe distance and do not come any closer. Saruman refuses to surrender and intends to take us all down with him."
Us!?
Are you sure there is 'we'?
Russell pursed his lips and followed the Fellowship of the Fellowship of the Ring to leave, but after only two steps, Gandalf grabbed his wrist tightly.
He was very strong; his withered hands were like iron hoops. Russell struggled twice but couldn't break free.
"What are you doing? Let go! I don't want to disturb your fair duel!" Despite Russell's desperate struggle, he was still dragged under the Orthanc by Gandalf. His arm strength was unmatched.
"Russell, I need your help," Gandalf said frankly. "Saruman's days are numbered, but his strength should not be underestimated. Sauron is watching Mordor closely, and I cannot risk injury by dueling with Saruman."
Analyzing this passage, the general meaning is: I, Gandalf, am stronger Saruman, but he has a technique that can kill me. I am not afraid of death, but Middle-earth needs me, and I cannot die!
Russell: "..."
As if to prove himself, Gandalf roared and swung his staff, striking the Orthanc wall.
The omnipotent Illumination Spell dispelled Saruman's shield, and white light shot out from the tip of the staff, spreading along the runes and turning half of the Orthanc white.
This attack was not a reckless and blind act; Gandalf had been planning it for ten years... cough cough, Gandalf had just realized the Orthanc's fatal weakness while talking to Saruman.
After a few crisp sounds of shattering glass, the magical runes slowly peeled away, and the Orthanc became dull and lost its former glory.
Gandalf!
With a thunderous roar, Saruman leaped from the tower's spire, staff in one hand and longsword in the other. Gravity accelerated his descent, and the longsword, carrying unparalleled power, slashed heavily towards Russell and Gandalf.
Saruman with a sword...
That's normal. He's also Maiar, with incredible arm strength that rivals Gandalf's. He employs a close-combat style that leaves no room for the warriors to survive.
A strong wind swept in, and the longsword grew to ten meters in the wind, its Magic Power transforming into a wind blade with astonishing cutting power.
At the critical moment, Russell and Gandalf simultaneously rolled over to dodge the falling attack, and then dusted themselves off as they got up.
"That was close!" X2
Rumble!
Saruman landed on his feet, falling 60 meters without slowing down, the impact of which made the ground tremble.
"Gandalf, this is my battle with you, a duel between white-robed mages. Let the unrelated go." Saruman pulled his feet out of the ice, swept his longsword horizontally, and white flames danced in the air, melting a large hole in the ice.
"I'm afraid not. You're not fighting me, you're fighting the entire Middle-earth. Russell is qualified to join us." Gandalf drew his longsword, his white robes fluttering even without wind.
Russell: "..."
If that's the case, then I'm really not qualified to join this duel!
"Hmph, full of platitudes, still as annoying as ever." Saruman sneered, brandishing his longsword and engaging Gandalf in combat.
The battle between the two white-robed mages is full of highlights. On the surface, it is a close-quarters fight combining swordsmanship and magic, but in fact, magic is integrated into every attack. It is not just a pure contest of brute force and swordsmanship.
"Saruman, your betrayal has caused devastation in Middle-earth, with countless people living under the shadow of war. But you still have a chance to atone. Tell Sauron your next plan, save them, and save yourself."
"Dream on! I won't tell you to anyone, you can't gain fame by stepping on me."
"Stop being so stubborn!" Gandalf said righteously, thrusting his sword between Saruman's legs.
"I'm not stubborn, I just don't want to tell you!" Saruman dodged to the side and thrust his staff at Gandalf's lower back.
The two old men fought and exchanged barbs, while Russell watched from the sidelines, nodding in approval. Saruman was indeed powerful; even stripped of his white robes and greatly weakened, he could still hold his own against Gandalf.
These two old men are both top-tier mages capable of smashing the Balrog in close combat!
Finally, when Gandalf gave him his tenth look, Russell made a move. He pulled a bar of soap from behind his back and tossed it at the feet of the two old men.
"Look at the soap!"
[Item Card: Very Old Soap (The soap is slippery and will surely be picked up by enemies if dropped)]
Intervening in the battle between two melee mages would be suicidal, and using Character Card would be wasteful, so the only option left was an item card or Skill Card. Russell flipped through the cards and this one was the most suitable.
Saruman is quite powerful, so let's test whether 'Always Pick Up When Enemy Sees' really guarantees a 100% hit rate!
Snap!
A clean white Sterilizing Soap fell to their feet. Gandalf and Saruman were both stunned. The next second, as if bewitched, they dropped their staffs and swords and rushed towards the soap.
Because the soap was closer to Saruman, he picked it up before Gandalf could. Just as he was wondering if he was getting dementia, Russell drew his two pistols and started firing wildly.
Ding ding dong dong!!
The Mana Bullet were deflected by the shield that automatically appeared around Saruman. Russell had already guessed that the Mana Bullet could not harm the Ringwraiths, and certainly could not harm the more powerful Saruman either.
The bullet was merely a probing attack. Russell unleashed Magic Power beneath his feet, drawing his Adamantium Blade and charging towards Saruman's neck.
Saruman, who was holding the soap and at a loss, realized that a deadly crisis was approaching. He thought to himself that he was doomed and subconsciously let go of the soap.
The soap rolled to Russell's feet. He paused, dropped the Adamantium Blade, and bent down to pick up the soap.
Russell: "..."
Holy crap, this is a total rip-off! It works on me too!